Hakeem, no question.

Hakeem Olajuwon without a doubt.

He was an amazing athlete with quickness of a small forward. The Dream Shake. Ewing heart-breaker of 94.

Just a damn brilliant player.

Dirk is the best since 2000.

Hakeem.

Past - Hakeem
Present - Dirk

Tony Parker

Dirk & Hakeen - tee

I think we have forgotten just how good Drazen Petrovic was.

I was starting to get concerned that no one has mentioned Steve Nash!

For mine it's between Nash, Nowitzki and Olajuwon as the only international players to be NBA MVP's.

As far as splitting them, well, Olajuwon gets the nod due to the two championships he led the Rockets to.

Hakeem or Tim Duncan

http://www.sporcle.com/games/dbaker07/top-80-foreign-born-nba-players

Hakeem by a mile. favourite player and just pleasure watching him go to work in the post. 94 and 95 finals, just terrific.

If only Sabonis played at his peak and not when he was broken and busted he would

Hakeem, but Muzz Buzz has a point re Sabonis. A once in a 100 year player.

Hakeem and Duncan.

Didn't Petrovic give Jordan a bit of a towelling at some stage?

Agree that Sabonis at his peak was awesome, but still not in the same league as Hakeem. Nor were Yao Ming or Motumbo or Gasol or Ewing.

My all-time favourite is still Kukoc. Unreal skills for a guy 6' 11" who could play EVERY position well. Sadly, he was just part of the Jordan supporting cast rather than a franchise player like he deserved.

Petrovic was a good player but no were near the level of Hakeen, Nash or Dirk. That's not to say he would not of gotten to that level

If you have the chance to see the ESPN Doco on Drazen and Vlade you will see just how good Drazen was both in the NBA and at an international level. Unfortunately many of the people using this site are probably not old enough to realise just how good Drazen was. The doco also has interviews with NBA superstars and coaches who attest to the incredible talent that was lost before reaching his absolute potential. Also a very sad doco in relationship to they events at an international level.

I remember watching Drazen at the Nets and he was damn good but not in the league of Hakeem, Dirk or Nash

Has to be Hakeem, then Duncan. Nash and Dirk are great but neither of them could affect the game at both ends of the floor like they could.

Hakeem Olajuwon
Tim Duncan
Toni Kukoc / Detlef Schrempf
Manu Ginobli
Steve Nash

anon12 - yep, that's an amazing doco.

Hakeem no doubt for me. I also agree with what a few others have said about Sabonis. In many long years of watching basketball the fact that a healthy Sabonis did not get to show his stuff on the NBA stage would be my biggest disappointment.IMO he would have redefined the 5 spot with his overall skill set and high BB IQ which was and still is unique for a player of his immense size.

went looking for some Sabonis videos check out the reaction to the ref at around the 50s mark. Quality

great video

Hard to go past Hakeem in his prime, he was simply unstoppable like few players American or foreign born have been. In terms of playoff performances Ginobili would have to be up there somewhere.

I agree with many here - Hakeem #1 followed by Duncan, Dirk & Nash.

Drazen was an amazing player and he was really fun to watch play, a great competitor. But sadly he died before he could reach the level of play of these four guys. Who knows how successful he would have gone on to be.

I've been following the NBA since 1987 and I rate Hakeem the best centre I’ve ever seen. Hakeem in his prime is the only centre I’d pick over Shaq in his prime. He was just unstoppable on both ends of the floor in the mid-1990’s. And one of the most serene players I’ve ever seen.

Gordon Liddy

I agree with you on Hakeem. Definitely the best centre I've ever seen and the first centre you'd pick even over Shaq.

Pat Ewing was born in Jamaica but I have to say Sabonis. He was an absolute BEAST.

Drazen would have been one of the greats, but sadly he never got the chance.

Hakeem for mine.

The great Andrew Gaze!!

Gotta be Hakeem

In 1990, Hakeem scored 25 points per game while leading the NBA in rebounds and blocked shots and finishing eighth in steals. 1987-1988, 1988/1989 and 1989/1990 he was in the top ten in 4 separate categories.

The Dream was a beast!